Flow control device



Sept, 15, 1936. I K EY 2,054,632

FLOW CONTROL DEV I CE Filed Dec. 22, l955 Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Flow coN'rRo DEVICE Albert Kingsley, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application December 22, 1933, Serial No. 703,521

8 Claims. (craze-127) The present invention relates to a novel flow control device designed especially for use in the filling of tank cars with gasoline or oil, although useful generally in the filling of vessels.

3 The principal object of the invention is to provide a removable device of this character whereby the flow into the vessel is automatically cut off on attainment of a predetermined liquid level within the vessel. Accordingly, the device com.-

to prises a float disposed within the vessel and adapted to operate a valve in the supply line on reaching a predetermined level.

The supply line contains a valve which has a tendency to close under the action of the 1-5 weight. In filling the vessel, the valve is held open by means counteracting the weight. This means, however, is released by a part of the float structure when the float reaches a given level. The holding means for the valve may be mechanical or electrical; In the former case, it consists preferably of a number of gripping shoes holding a cable which extends from the weighted valve. These shoes are released by the float structure, whereupon the valve is permitted to open under the action of the weight. In'the electrical system, the weighted valve is held open by an electromagnet, and the circuit is broken by a member carried by the float when the latter reaches a predetermined level.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a detail longitudinal section of a tank car equipped according to the invention; Figure 2 is an elevation of the control appa-- ratus parly in section;

Figure 3 is a top plan view; 1 1 Figure 4 is a section on the lined-4' of Fig. 2 Figure 5 is adetail section of the pulley; Figure 6 is a detail section partly in elevation at the pulley;

Figure '7 is a detail view of a modified me chanicalsystem; and r Figure8 is a detail perspective view thereof. Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

InFigure 1 is illustrated a portion of a tank car I having the usual filling dome 2. The usual man hole cover in the dome is replaced by a removable cover plate '3 from which is suspended a frame or cage consisting mainly of a circular series of vertical strips 4. The frame is com- 5 pleted by a number of cross bars 5 at the lower ends of the strips and further by several bands 6 surrounding the strips.

A float l. is adapted to move vertically in the cage and in this connection the inner face of each. strip 4 is formed with a longitudinal rib 8 to reduce the friction, as may be seen more clearly in Figure 4. Arms 9 extend upwardly from the float, and are bent inwardly as at H] at their upper ends which carry a collar H for thepurpose which will presently appear. The arms are formed with extensible joints l2 for regulating thedistanc'e between float l and the collar ll.

Thebands 6 also support the filling pipe 13 v which is adapted for connection to the loading or supply pipe l4 by'means of a flexible section 15. The pipe l4 joins the valve l6 which is opened and closed by a movement of the lever 11. The lever l1 carries a weight 18 so positioned that itrhas a normal tendency to close the valve.

A pair of brackets 19 are suspended from the lower surface of the plate 3 and serve to support a rotatable pulley 20 therebetween. A cable 2| extends from the unweighted end of the lever I] and is wound on the pulley 20 by the action of a coil spring 22 within the pulley as clearly shownin Figure 5. The tension of the spring, however, is not sufiicient to raise the weight l8.

To the lower surface of the plate 3 are also pivotally mounted two-forked levers 23 at opposite sides of the cable 2L. The inner ends of the levers carry. friction shoes 24adapted to engage the cable: andhold it'against shifting. Springs 25 connect the levers to the plate 3 and normally draw the levers' into gripping position. remaining ends of the levers are respectively forked, andeach such end comprises a finger 26 extending over the collar II and another finger 21 passing through an aperture 28 in the plate 3.

By means of the joints I2, the arms I!) are so adjusted that the collar l I will engage the fingers 26 when'the float 1 reaches a predetermined height, namely, a height representing a level to which'the tank is to be filled. When the fingers are thus displaced by contact with the collar 7 I I, the shoes 24 are swung out of gripping engagement with the cable 2|. The weight I8 is now free to descend and close the valve. If it is desired for any reason to close the valve. at an earlier period, the-forks may be manually actuated by manual pressure onone or both of the fingers 21 in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 6.

A tensioned pulley 20 holds the cable taut between the lever I1 and the shoes 24 and further The prevents it from accumulating upon the float. The cable. is guided to the pulley 20 by means of a ring 29 supported between the brackets [9 as shown in Figures 2 and 6.

The collar I I further carries a gauge 30 or level indicator passing through a plate 3 and therefore visible outside the car. The plate further carries a safety valve 3| to permit overflowing in case of overfllling, and also to assist in the displacement of air during filling. The lower end of the pipe I3 is preferably screw threaded as at 32 for the adjustment of another pipe extending to the bottom of the car in order to prevent the formation of gas and bubbles.

rolling stock for carrying liquids.

In Figures '7 and 8 is illustrated another mechanical control system embodying brackets 53' suspended from the lower surface of the plate 3 and supporting rotatably therebetween a pulley 54 and ratchet gears 55 on each side and all three held together. Brackets 53 also support rotatably a double curved lever 55 with a roller 5'! at one end and pawls 58 at the other end.

Normally pawls 58 engage ratchet gears 55 and the cable 59 wound on the pulley 54 is prevented from shifting. When the float 60 reaches the predetermined height,roller 51 is pushed upward- 1y thus disengaging ratchet wheel 55 from pawls 58 and cable 59 is free to let the weight descend and close the valve.

A vertical stem 6| engaging a tongue 62 formed in the center of lever 56 may also be used for releasing the cable 59 from the outside.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations of the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A flow control device comprising a frame adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be filled, a float guided in said frame, a supply pipe adapted for insertion in said vessel through said frame, a valve in said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable against the action of said weight, and means carried by said float for releasing said shoes when said float reaches a given level.

2. A flow control device comprisinga frame adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be filled, a float guided in said frame, a supply pipe adapted for insertion in said vessel through said frame, a valve in said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable against the action of said weight, arms extending upwardly from said float, and a member carried by said arms and adapted to release said shoes when said float reaches a given level.

3. A flow control device comprising a frame adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be filled, a float guided in said frame, a supply pipe, adapted for insertion in said vessel through said frame, a valve in said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable against the action of said weight, adjustable arms extending upwardly from said float, and a member carried by said arms and adapted to release said shoes when said float reaches a given level.

4. A flow control device comprising a frame adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be fllled, a float guided in said frame, a supply pipe adapted for insertion in said vessel through said frame, a valve in said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable against the actionof said weight, means carried by said float for releasing said shoes when said float reaches a given level, and a tensioned pulley adapted to wind said cable.

5. A flow control device comprising a frame adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be filled, a float guided in said frame, asupplypipe adaptedfor. insertion in said vessel through said frame, a valve in 'said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, pivoted levers carrying gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable against the action of said Weight; and means carried by said float for engaging said levers and releasing said shoes from saidcab when said float reaches a given level.

6. A flow control device comprising aframe adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be filled, a float guided in said frame, a supply pipe adapted for insertion in said vessel through said frame, a valve in said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, pivoted levers carrying gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable against the action of said weight, means carried by said float for engaging said levers and releasing said shoes from said cable when said float reaches a given level, and branched fingers" extending from said levers and manually engageable where-' by said shoes may be manually released from said cable.

'7. A flow control device comprising a frame adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be filled, a float guided in said frame, a supply pipe adapted for insertion in said vessel through said frame, a valve in said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, pivoted levers carrying gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable against the action of said weight, arms extending upwardly from said float, and a member'carried by said arms and adapted to engage said levers to release said shoes from said cable whensaid float reaches a given level.

8. A flow control device comprising aframe adapted to be removably mounted in a vessel to be filled, a float guided in said frame, a supply pipe adapted for insertion in said vesselthrough said frame, a valve in said pipe, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a cable adapted to lift said weight and open said valve, pivoted levers carrying gripping shoes adapted to hold said cable, against the action of said weight, adjustable arms extending upwardly from said float, and a' member carried by said arms and adapted to engage said'levers to release said shoes from said cable when said float reaches a given level. 'f

' ALBERT KING'SLEY. 

